Man of the hour 'Datuk Seri Farhash' dodges media in Penang

As protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, some 350km to the north, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak was awarded the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”.

The award ceremony took place at Dewan Sri Pinang, George Town, in conjunction with the 84th birthday celebration of Penang Governor Ramli Ngah Talib.

According to Sinar Harian, the former political secretary to Anwar - who has been implicated in a mining scandal in Sabah and faces scrutiny over his wealth and business dealings - appeared in high spirits but avoided engaging with the media.

“Farhash appeared cheerful as he was congratulated by friends from PKR outside the hall, who wrapped a ceremonial cloth around him as a gesture of celebration for the honour bestowed upon him.

“However, he quickly returned inside the hall after noticing the presence of media personnel,” read the report.

Call for MACC probe

On Friday, former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli cast a shadow over the 42-year-old businessperson’s moment, suggesting the MACC should investigate him.

“Controversy after controversy involving Farhash must be addressed swiftly, and blanket denials will no longer be accepted by the public.

“The information revealed thus far is sufficient for MACC to open an investigation paper on Farhash, just as they have done with other figures accused of sudden unexplained wealth.

“Only with such consistency will the public gain greater confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts,” the Pandan MP said.

Rafizi pointed out that this was not the first time Farhash had been linked to questionable business dealings, noting that discussions of his wealth and influence are common - from everyday citizens to those in business circles engaging with the government and corporate sectors.

“Since Anwar became prime minister, Farhash has suddenly emerged as a prolific businessperson with interests in numerous companies. Some of these companies have reportedly secured large procurement contracts from the government.

“The actual value of government procurement contracts awarded to companies linked to Farhash is not publicly known,” he added.

Urging Anwar to avoid the perception of selective enforcement in his anti-corruption campaign, the former economy minister called on the prime minister to take the allegations against his former aide seriously.

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